The annual Guild of Taxidermists challenge taxidermy competition

Representing Taxidermists across the UK

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Annual Challenge

The competition is designed to be fun, educational, and rewarding for the competitors and for those watching as the anonymous mounts are judged. The idea behind this challenge is to put all the taxidermists on a level playing field by restricting it to the same pose of the same species and will be open to compete in the novice, amateur and professional classes. Give it a try and your work will be sure to benefit from the intense studying and observation required of each species, as you strive to reproduce the pose as accurately as possible -not an easy task! The entries are judged on anatomical accuracy, copying the pose in the challenge photo, species shape, correctness of fur or feather pattern and craftsmanship – in other words, all the elements seen in the live animal and contained in the reference photo. Groundwork is not judged unless specified

Avian Challenge 2022

How to enter:

Please bring along your pheasant to the annual conference this October copying the pose in this image. This competition is designed to be fun, educational and rewarding for the competitors and for those watching as the anonymous mounts are judged.

The entries will be judged on anatomical accuracy, specimen shape, correctness of skin position and craftsmanship - in other words, all elements seen in a live pheasant and contained in this reference photo. The groundwork will not be taken into account for this challenge.

There will be winners in Professional, Amateur and Novice Categories.

Mammal Challenge 2021

Congratulations to the winners of the Stoat Mammal Challenge 2021

Stephen Smith for Best Amateur

Many thanks to our Judges Colin Scott and George Jamieson who led this year's challenge of a stoat.

Challenge Photo

Best Amateur - Stephen Smith

Summer 2020 Challenge

Congratulations to the winners of the online Magpie Avian Challenge.

Sophie Kiela in Professional
Ole Sørensen in Amateur

We had 16 entries in total, 12 Amateur and 4 Professional.

Many thanks to:

our Judge Steve Massam for providing great feedback and critique to all entries.
Mark Anthony Buhagiar for sponsoring the prizes.
Wildlife Photographer Filip Blaauw from Norway for allowing us to use his photograph for the challenge, Instagram: @filipbl from Norway.

And of course, to all participants, I hope you enjoyed taking part and can learn from the feedback from Steve given to you via email.

Challenge Photo